Reciprocating nut sheller

ABSTRACT

A swingably movable handle, functioning as a second order lever, is connected to actuate the reciprocable jaw of a piston-type nut sheller through a swingably movable connecting rod releasably latched to the handle. The connection is selectively effected by the seating of a latch pin mounted on the handle into one of a plurality of linearly spaced notches disposed along the underside of the connecting rod, to thereby alter the position of the reciprocable path of the movable jaw as may be required to shell nuts differing in size, the continued connection of the handle to the connecting rod as the handle is swung in either direction being assured by a distinctive configuration of the notches.

United States Patent Primary ExaminerWillie G. Abercrombie Att0rneyRalphR. Pittman ABSTRACT: A swingably movable handle, functioning as a secondorder lever, is connected to actuate the reciprocable jaw of apiston-type nut sheller through a swingably movable connecting rodreleasably latched to the handle. The connection is selectively effectedby the seating of a latch pin mounted on the handle into one of aplurality of linearly spaced notches disposed along the underside of theconnecting rod, to thereby alter the position of the reciprocable pathof the movable jaw as may be required to shell nuts differing in size,the continued connection of the handle to the connecting rod as thehandle is swung in either direction being assured by a distinctiveconfiguration of the notches.

RECIPROCATING NUT SHELLER PRIOR ART Reciprocating nut shellers ornutcrackers, to which this invention generally relates, are the subjectof a numberof prior art disclosures. Several of the concepts describedinclude toothed racks cooperating'with pinions or levered-dogs as a partof the driving mechanism actuated by a swingable handle for crushing theshell of a nut. Those mechanisms capable of processing nuts varying indiameter are morev complex than simple, with a construction costdirectly related to the complexity of concept, andnone suggesta simplestructure embodying adriving handle connected to a driven outwardlyprojecting connecting rod, each of which is independently manipulatableabout a pivotal mounting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INV ENTION The most important consideration forsimplifying the structure of reciprocable nut shellers is theprovisionof a simple and effective driving connection between the handle and thereciprocable jaw, and the provision of such a mechanism is the principalobject of the invention.

The invention further contemplates an improved mechanism (a) in whichthe shellcracking movable jaw moves in a horizontal path in response toa substantially vertical coplanar movement of the handle; (b) aconstruction in which the connecting rod between the handle andthemovable jaw is releasably latched to the handle for quickly selectingthat one of several available paths traversable by the movable jaw foradjusting the sheller for use with differing sizes of'nuts; (c) having arelationship between the movable components in which the mechanicaladvantage is such that a small pressure on the handle can subjectthe-movable jaw to a relatively large nut cracking pressure; and (d)utilizing portions of otherwise useful movable components as stops formaintaining the several movable components in an assembled structure,while not interfering with those movements essential to the properoperation of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment isillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the rearward end;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the guiding cylinder;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the lower end of the operatin handle; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section of the forward end of the movable jaw.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the fixed jaw or anvil 16 and thehollow guide cylinder are rigidly secured in longitudinal spacedrelationship to the elongate base 10, the fixed jaw 16 being mounted atthe forward end of the base, and the cylinder extends along anintermediate portion of the base. An integral portion 33 of the base isrearwardly projected, and at its outer end provided with thetransversely extending opening 27.

As may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, an operating handle, including theouter handhold II, the intermediate portion 12, an enlarged coextensiveportion 13, and. the lower bent and bifurcated portion 34, is disposedwith the latter portion straddling the. base projection 33 and beingswingably secured at its lower end thereto by the pivot pin 20,extending through the transverse openings 26, and retained'therein bythe cooperating clip fastener 21.

The movable jaw or piston 17 is slip-fitted for guided slidable' andreciprocable movement coaxially with the guide cylinder 15 toward andaway from the fixed jaw 16. The normally horizontally disposedconnecting rod 14 has its forward end position between a pair oftransversely spaced, parallel projections extending rearwardly from themovable jaw, and is pivotally secured thereto by means of the pivot pin24 inthe openings 18, with its retainer clip 23, and projects from itspivotal connection, rearwardly and coaxially with the piston 17, abovethe pivot pin 20 and through the space 29 of the bifurcated portion 34at the lower end of the manipulating handle. The free outer end of theconnecting rod is formed with an upwardly directed recess or fingerhold28, for use in raising and lowering the end of the rod as it swings in avertical plane about the pivot 24.

At an elevation above and adjacent to the pivoted end of the handle apair of aligned openings 25 extend transversely through the bifurcatedportion 34 of the handle, and a driving latch pin 19 extends through theopenings 25 and across the space 29, being rigidly retained in place bythe clip fastener 22. The latch pin is disposed in the path throughwhich the connecting rod 14 is swingable, and a plurality of linearlyspaced notches or latching recesses 30 formed in the intermediateportion of the connecting rod between the fingerhold and its pivotedend, the notches being directed upwardly into the connecting rod fromits lower surface, each of the notches being rearwardly undercut andthereby enlarged at the respective inner ends and adapted to seat overthe latch pin inslip-frt engagement.

The manipulating handle is illustrated in a position intermediate itsrespective swingable limits, the maximum downward and forwardmotionbeing limited by the interposition of the rear end of the cylinder 15 inthe path of movement of the enlarged handle portion 13, and the upwardand rearward motion being limited by the engagement of the upper surfaceof the connecting rod 14 with the bight of the bifurcated portion 34.

The space 29 between the legs of the lower portion 34 of the handle,when the handle is in the maximum downward'position, is made sufficientto permit the connecting rod to be unlatched and released from the latchpin 19 regardless of the position of the notch with which it may beengaged.

In operation, the handleis moved to the downward position, the outer endof the connecting rod 14 raised to'release the rod from the driving orlatch pin, and the rod and connected movable jaw moved to a latchedposition appropriate for the kind of nuts to be shelled. The handle isthen swung forward until the end portions of the nut are nested in thenut-receiving recesses 31 and 32, following which a continued downwardmovement of the handle fractures the shell of the nut without crushingthe nutmeat. Once the appropriate latching of the handle isaccomplished, no further adjustments need be made until nuts of adiffering size require shelling.

It may be noted that the handle functions with the reciprocable membersof the sheller as a second orderlever, the driving or latch pin beinginterposed between the pivot pin of the handle and its outer end. Afavorable mechanical advantage is realized by the constructionillustrated, in which the distance between the pivot pin and latch pinis small relative to the length of the handle, one satisfactorycombination having a pivot-drive coupling of about five-eights inch witha notch spacing along the connecting rod of about three-eighths inch.

What I claim as my'invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is:

lclaim:

I. In a hand operated nut sheller having an elongate base, a fixednut-receiving jaw rigidly secured at the forward end of said base, ahollow cylinder'rigidly securednear the rearward end of said base andextending therealong in opposed, spaced relation to said jaw, ashellcracking piston slidable in said cylinder through a reciprocablemovement alternately toward and away from said fixed jaw, a swingablymovable handle pivotally fulcrumed at one end to said base at a positionrearwardly'of and in longitudinally spaced relationship with saidpiston, and connecting means joining the rearward end of said piston tosaid handle for effecting said reciprocable movement of said piston inresponse to apredetermined swingable movement of said handle, saidconnecting means comprising a longitudinally extending connecting rodpivotally secured at its forward end to said piston and swingablethereabout in.a vertical plane between a lower latching position and anupper unreceiving recesses to releasably latch said connecting rod tosaid handle, the improvement wherein each of said recesses in theintermediate portion of said connecting rod is undercut from its upperextremity to form a rearwardly directed opening registrable with saidlatch pin, and the end portion of said connecting rod projectingrearwardly from said intermediate portion is a fingerhold formanipulating said connecting rod.

1. In a hand operated nut sheller having an elongate base, a fixednut-receiving jaw rigidly secured at the forward end of said base, ahollow cylinder rigidly secured near the rearward end of said base andextending therealong in opposed spaced relation to said jaw, ashellcracking piston slidable in said cylinder through a reciprocablemovement alternately toward and away from said fixed jaw, a swingablymovable handle pivotally fulcrumed at one end to said base at a positionrearwardly of and in longitudinally spaced relationship with saidpiston, and connecting means joining the rearward end of said piston tosaid handle for effecting said reciprocable movement of said piston inresponse to a predetermined swingable movement of said handle, saidconnecting means comprising a longitudinally extending connecting rodpivotally secured at its forward end to said piston and swingablethereabout in a vertical plane between a lower latching position and anupper unlatching position, said connecting rod having an intermediateportion extending rearwardly along and beyond said handle, a pluralityof linearly spaced recesses directed upwardly into the intermediateportion of said connecting rod from the lower surface thereof andextending transversely thereacross, and a transversely extending latchpin rigidly secured to said handle above the fulcrumed end and movabletherewith to engagement with and disengagement from any one of saidlatch-receiving recesses to releasably latch said connecting rod to saidhandle, the improvement wherein each of said recesses in theintermediate portion of said connecting rod is undercut from its upperextremity to form a rearwardly directed opening registrable with saidlatch pin, and the end portion of said connecting rod projectingrearwardly from said intermediate portion is a fingerhold formanipulating said connecting rod.